Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

Almost all the expositors do expound this place of the Assyrians, for they think the Prophet threatens this destruction wherewith the Lord will root them out after they have besieged Jerusalem; as if he should speak on this wise, The Assyrian shall be so swollen with pride, that he will think himself sure of Jerusalem as soon as he shall have once looked upon it: and also, that all shall be astonished at his coming, so as some shall flee away, others shall yield themselves voluntarily; therefore he will by and by imagine himself Lord over all: but the Lord will suddenly overthrow all his designs, and will cut down his high branches. Yet when we advisedly consider every thing, and especially that which is by and by added of Lebanon, with the consolation that followeth, I am of opinion that this place ought to be referred to the Jews themselves. So then Isaiah, as I think, continues still to threaten the calamities which should happen soon after to the people: as if he should say, the Assyrian shall not only come to Nob, but shall spoil the whole country; and therefore he shall waste and wholly root out whatsoever is beautiful and good therein, even as if one should cut off the boughs from the trees, or as if the tree it self should be plucked up by the roots.

ALmost all the expositours doe expound this place of the Assyrians, for they think the Prophet threatens this destructiō wherewith the Lord will roote them out after they haue besieged Ierusalem; as if he should speak on this wise, The Assyrian shall be so swolne with pride, that he will thinke himselfe sure of Ierusalem as soone as he shall haue once looked vpon it: and also, that all shall be astonished at his comming, so as some shall flee away, others shall yeeld themselues voluntarilie; therefore he will by and by imagin himselfe Lord ouer all: but the Lord will sodainly ouerthrow all his deseignes, and will cut downe his high branches. Yet when we aduisedlie consider euery thing, and especiallie that which is by and by added of Lebanon, with the consolation that followeth, I am of opinion that this place ought to be referred to the Iewes themselues. So then Isaiah, as I thinke, continues still to threaten the calamities which should happen soone after to the people: as if he should say, the Assyrian shall not only come to Nob, but shall spoile the whole countrie; and therefore he shall waste and whollie roote out whatsoeuer is beautifull and good therein, euen as if one should cut off the boughs from the trees, or as if the tree it selfe should bee plucked vp by the roots.